Research Library

There is limited global research addressing the professional adaptation of migrant social workers in general, and a dearth of scholarship specific to the unique context in Alberta, Canada. While academic attention on the broad topic of professional migration of social workers has gained some traction over the past decade, the emerging literature has so far lacked a comparative gender analysis of the experiences of professional migration among social workers. The purpose of the present study was to develop enhanced understanding of the experiences of professional adaptation of migrant social workers in the Albertan context through a comparative gender analysis. This dissertation emerged from my involvement as a research assistant on a national study on the professional adaptation of migrant social workers in Canada. While coordinating data collection for the Alberta site of the national study, I conducted in-depth interviews with 17 male and female migrant social workers that had migrated to Alberta, Canada within the past decade. From these 17 interviews, 10 transcripts of interviews were selected as cases for secondary analysis in order to answer the question: How do female and male migrant social workers in Alberta experience their professional adaptation to practice in their new context? The research method employed in the secondary study was interpretive phenomenological analysis (IPA), a form of qualitative inquiry that examines how people make sense of significant lived experiences. Intersectionality theory and postcolonial feminisms provided the theoretical framework for the study, facilitating attention to both the macro-level factors that structure lived experiences and interactions, and the micro-level processes and interpretations that shape social identities. Engaging with the detailed personal accounts of the participants provided new understandings of how male and female migrant social workers both similarly and differentially interpret and make meaning out of their experiences of professional adaptation. The study makes an important contribution to existing knowledge about professional adaptation in the context of transnational labour mobility. Notably, it is among the first studies to explore the professional adaptation processes of migrant social workers in Alberta, as well as among the earliest works to engage in a qualitative comparative gender analysis that explores these experiences. There is limited global research addressing the professional adaptation of migrant social workers in general, and a dearth of scholarship specific to the unique context in Alberta, Canada. While academic attention on the broad topic of professional migration of social workers has gained some traction over the past decade, the emerging literature has so far lacked a comparative gender analysis of the experiences of professional migration among social workers. The purpose of the present study was to develop enhanced understanding of the experiences of professional adaptation of migrant social workers in the Albertan context through a comparative gender analysis. This dissertation emerged from my involvement as a research assistant on a national study on the professional adaptation of migrant social workers in Canada. While coordinating data collection for the Alberta site of the national study, I conducted in-depth interviews with 17 male and female migrant social workers that had migrated to Alberta, Canada within the past decade. From these 17 interviews, 10 transcripts of interviews were selected as cases for secondary analysis in order to answer the question: How do female and male migrant social workers in Alberta experience their professional adaptation to practice in their new context? The research method employed in the secondary study was interpretive phenomenological analysis (IPA), a form of qualitative inquiry that examines how people make sense of significant lived experiences. Intersectionality theory and postcolonial feminisms provided the theoretical framework for the study, facilitating attention to both the macro-level factors that structure lived experiences and interactions, and the micro-level processes and interpretations that shape social identities. Engaging with the detailed personal accounts of the participants provided new understandings of how male and female migrant social workers both similarly and differentially interpret and make meaning out of their experiences of professional adaptation. The study makes an important contribution to existing knowledge about professional adaptation in the context of transnational labour mobility. Notably, it is among the first studies to explore the professional adaptation processes of migrant social workers in Alberta, as well as among the earliest works to engage in a qualitative comparative gender analysis that explores these experiences.
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This research explores political participation of immigrant women in Lethbridge. More specifically, research participants identified the factors that affect immigrant women’s practices of political participation in Lethbridge. The analysis draws upon feminist standpoint theory, as well as Sandra Burt’s and Martha Ackelsberg’s conceptual framework on political participation. Fifteen open-ended semi-structured interviews were conducted with immigrant women who have permanent residency or Canadian citizenship, have been living in Canada for more than three years, and are over nineteen years old. As a result of this research the following factors were revealed that affected immigrant women’s political participation: immigration status, country of origin, time, language, education, economic stability, opportunity, age and membership in organisations and groups. Overall, the research found out that the level of political participation of immigrant women in Lethbridge is low, especially for those coming from developing countries. This research explores political participation of immigrant women in Lethbridge. More specifically, research participants identified the factors that affect immigrant women’s practices of political participation in Lethbridge. The analysis draws upon feminist standpoint theory, as well as Sandra Burt’s and Martha Ackelsberg’s conceptual framework on political participation. Fifteen open-ended semi-structured interviews were conducted with immigrant women who have permanent residency or Canadian citizenship, have been living in Canada for more than three years, and are over nineteen years old. As a result of this research the following factors were revealed that affected immigrant women’s political participation: immigration status, country of origin, time, language, education, economic stability, opportunity, age and membership in organisations and groups. Overall, the research found out that the level of political participation of immigrant women in Lethbridge is low, especially for those coming from developing countries.
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Guided by human capital theory, this phenomenological study focused on the perceptions of job satisfaction and over-qualification among 11 landed immigrants of African origin in Alberta, Canada. Data were collected using semi structured interviews. Results may be used to enhance socioeconomic integration services and programs run by immigrant-serving organizations in Alberta. Guided by human capital theory, this phenomenological study focused on the perceptions of job satisfaction and over-qualification among 11 landed immigrants of African origin in Alberta, Canada. Data were collected using semi structured interviews. Results may be used to enhance socioeconomic integration services and programs run by immigrant-serving organizations in Alberta.
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Filipinos have been one of the largest groups of newcomers to Canada since the 1980s. Pre-arrival services defined early success in the settlement and integration of Filipinos in Alberta. Both the Canadian and Filipino governments need to increase services to fill gaps and connect pre-arrival services to post-arrival. Filipinos have been one of the largest groups of newcomers to Canada since the 1980s. Pre-arrival services defined early success in the settlement and integration of Filipinos in Alberta. Both the Canadian and Filipino governments need to increase services to fill gaps and connect pre-arrival services to post-arrival.
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This provincial report describes current capacities and gaps in settlement services in eight small urban centres and rural communities in Alberta. Communities involved were Red Deer, Wood Buffalo, Lethbridge, Medicine Hat, Grande Prairie, Brooks, Lloydminster, and Fort Saskatchewan. This provincial report describes current capacities and gaps in settlement services in eight small urban centres and rural communities in Alberta. Communities involved were Red Deer, Wood Buffalo, Lethbridge, Medicine Hat, Grande Prairie, Brooks, Lloydminster, and Fort Saskatchewan.
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This research explores the value of the federally funded Local Immigration Partnership (LIP) as it expands to Alberta and other provinces across Canada. While labour market demands make the recruitment and retention of immigrants a serious policy problem in smaller, more isolated centres, the existing academic literature has highlighted the importance of local settlement support services. In smaller centres, these services, if they are available, are delivered by a range of federal, provincial and municipal government agencies, acting in partnership with a range of Non-Governmental Organizations. There has been concern that there is a lack of cohesion in this policy network, which is particularly problematic given the network’s vital role in delivering services. Academic research indicates that relevant community actors are not sufficiently connected on immigration issues, and the LIP program has been designed as an information-based policy instrument, providing funding to help organize networked service delivery more effectively – this is seen as a low-cost strategy for improving immigration support in smaller cities. Regions of Canada vary in their strengths and in their challenges, and the LIP program’s focus on enhancing existing immigration-sector networks seeks to account for these differences. This project presents a case study of Lloydminster, Alberta to test the potential applicability and receptivity of the LIP program in a rurally located, economically booming, small Western Canadian city. Lloydminster’s immigration-sector network has improved on its own over time; but organizations on the periphery still feel disconnected, which is negatively impacting immigrant integration. From the data collected through this project, it is clear that a Local Immigration Partnership has the potential to improve the network in Lloydminster, and that the relevant community actors see real benefits in this approach to immigration policy. This research explores the value of the federally funded Local Immigration Partnership (LIP) as it expands to Alberta and other provinces across Canada. While labour market demands make the recruitment and retention of immigrants a serious policy problem in smaller, more isolated centres, the existing academic literature has highlighted the importance of local settlement support services. In smaller centres, these services, if they are available, are delivered by a range of federal, provincial and municipal government agencies, acting in partnership with a range of Non-Governmental Organizations. There has been concern that there is a lack of cohesion in this policy network, which is particularly problematic given the network’s vital role in delivering services. Academic research indicates that relevant community actors are not sufficiently connected on immigration issues, and the LIP program has been designed as an information-based policy instrument, providing funding to help organize networked service delivery more effectively – this is seen as a low-cost strategy for improving immigration support in smaller cities. Regions of Canada vary in their strengths and in their challenges, and the LIP program’s focus on enhancing existing immigration-sector networks seeks to account for these differences. This project presents a case study of Lloydminster, Alberta to test the potential applicability and receptivity of the LIP program in a rurally located, economically booming, small Western Canadian city. Lloydminster’s immigration-sector network has improved on its own over time; but organizations on the periphery still feel disconnected, which is negatively impacting immigrant integration. From the data collected through this project, it is clear that a Local Immigration Partnership has the potential to improve the network in Lloydminster, and that the relevant community actors see real benefits in this approach to immigration policy.
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This research explores the shifting subjectivities of eight Nigerian immigrant women as they negotiate gender roles and marital relations in Lethbridge. Using the Gendered Geographies of Power framework, this study uncovers a reflexive relationship between the social location of participants, and the type and degree of agency that they display as immigrant women, mothers, and wives, within geographies that include, the Canadian labour market, extended family networks in Nigeria, and nuclear households in Canada. Overall, findings show that by demonstrating agency, participants were able to appropriate social-cultural realities of migration and transnational living for the transformation of marital relations in ways that promoted gendered wellbeing and positioning within their marriages. This research explores the shifting subjectivities of eight Nigerian immigrant women as they negotiate gender roles and marital relations in Lethbridge. Using the Gendered Geographies of Power framework, this study uncovers a reflexive relationship between the social location of participants, and the type and degree of agency that they display as immigrant women, mothers, and wives, within geographies that include, the Canadian labour market, extended family networks in Nigeria, and nuclear households in Canada. Overall, findings show that by demonstrating agency, participants were able to appropriate social-cultural realities of migration and transnational living for the transformation of marital relations in ways that promoted gendered wellbeing and positioning within their marriages.
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This report describes the results of a telephone survey conducted in 2012 of recent immigrants to Alberta concerning their experiences with settlement services in the province, their information needs, and their economic and social integration outcomes. This report describes the results of a telephone survey conducted in 2012 of recent immigrants to Alberta concerning their experiences with settlement services in the province, their information needs, and their economic and social integration outcomes.
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This report collates findings from a series of public consultations conducted to review and receive feedback on the impacts of the TFW program on Alberta’s workforce, its communities and its people. The review was meant to identify the role of the TFW program in Alberta’s labour force planning, what role TFWs fill in Alberta’s labour market and how to ensure that the program is best serving the needs of Albertans. This report collates findings from a series of public consultations conducted to review and receive feedback on the impacts of the TFW program on Alberta’s workforce, its communities and its people. The review was meant to identify the role of the TFW program in Alberta’s labour force planning, what role TFWs fill in Alberta’s labour market and how to ensure that the program is best serving the needs of Albertans.
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This report provides insights and solutions for the housing challenges faced by newcomers in Calgary. It was compiled by a team of experts from various organizations and communities, and it aims to shed light on the difficulties that newcomers face when it comes to finding affordable housing in the city. The report discusses the various challenges that newcomers face, such as language barriers, discrimination, and lack of knowledge about the housing market. It also highlights the initiatives and programs in place to address these challenges and provides recommendations for individuals and organizations to get involved in advocating for better housing options for newcomers in Calgary. Overall, this report is a valuable resource for anyone interested in understanding and addressing the housing challenges of newcomers in Calgary. This report provides insights and solutions for the housing challenges faced by newcomers in Calgary. It was compiled by a team of experts from various organizations and communities, and it aims to shed light on the difficulties that newcomers face when it comes to finding affordable housing in the city. The report discusses the various challenges that newcomers face, such as language barriers, discrimination, and lack of knowledge about the housing market. It also highlights the initiatives and programs in place to address these challenges and provides recommendations for individuals and organizations to get involved in advocating for better housing options for newcomers in Calgary. Overall, this report is a valuable resource for anyone interested in understanding and addressing the housing challenges of newcomers in Calgary.
This publication has no Abstract to dispaly